They are too busy fighting against each other to care for common ideals.
Source: tatoeba (1321)
Against
/əˈɡeɪnst/
Synonyms for "against" (94 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (19)
aboutacrossadverse toaproposas toat cross purposesat cross-purposes withathwartconconcerningconfrontingcontracontrary tocounter todead against
Noun(1 words)
Preposition(3 words)
Strong matches (28)
despitedisappointeddiscontenteddisenchanteddisgruntleddisillusioneddispleaseddissatisfieddissentingen route tofacingfightforfromfrontingheaded forhostilein conflict within contact within contempt of
Show 4 more words
in defiance ofin disagreement within front ofin opposition to
Preposition(4 words)
in comparison within contact within oppositionin opposition to
Related words (47)
in order toin passage toin preparation forin spite ofin transit toindignantlownext toonon route toopposedopposed toopposingoppositeopposite toover againstpoorreregardless ofresistant
Show 17 more words
respectingtotouchingtowardtowardsturned offunappreciativeunapprovinguncomplimentaryunfavorableunhappyupup againstuponversusvis-a-viswith respect to
Preposition(8 words)
Noun(2 words)
objecting tov symbol
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: about, across, adverse to, anti, apropos.
- Sentence evidence is available for against, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from moby, derived_reverse, opengloss.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "against".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "against"
Keep "against" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "against" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "against", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "against" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
8 entriescomparative prepositioncontrastdirectional termfunction wordmotion descriptoroppositionprepositionspatial preposition
More specific
11 entriesfrictionin comparison within opposition toin relation tooppositionpressed againstrefusalresistanceup againstversuswind resistance
Collocations
10 entriesagainst all oddsagainst each otheragainst the clockagainst the grainagainst the rulesagainst the wallagainst the windgo againststand againstvote against
Derivations
1 entriesSample sentences
50 total sentences available.
Are you for or against abortions?
Source: tatoeba (1837)
Every time I join a new game of Warcraft, I am pitted against a new team of adversaries.
Source: tatoeba (1912)
I am against using death as a punishment. I am also against using it as a reward.
Source: tatoeba (2264)
Showing 4 of 50 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "against"?
Closest matches include about, across, adverse to, anti, apropos.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "against"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.